Travel market uplifts as long holi weekend approaches

New Delhi: The long holi weekend has got people planning about their 4 day holiday as Holi this year falls on a Thursday and Good Friday the next day.

Mansav Sethi, an IT professional, is very excited. For the father of two children, a long weekend with his family is always a bonanza.

According to travel experts, many Indians are travelling during the long weekend, from March 24 to Easter Sunday on March 27, within the country and abroad.

An increased demand for travelling places during the long weekend is witnessed, says Ranjeet Oak, Chief Business Officer-Holiday of MakeMyTrip.com, India’s leading online travel company.

“We are witnessing an increased demand for Holi long weekend travel. So far, we have seen a 25-30 percent increase in bookings for different destinations and we expect a further increase in demand in the next week or so,” Oak said.

Goa, Kashmir, Himalayan hill stations, Corbett National Park, Ooty, Udaipur and Puducherry remained the main attractions during vacations, he said.

“MakeMyTrip is offering a comprehensive product bouquet to cater to this demand for popular destinations like Kashmir, Himachal, Goa, North East, Rajasthan and Karnataka,” he added.

Arti Vij, a housewife, feels that a short getaway during the long Holi holiday is the best way to unwind.

“It is not often that one gets such a long weekend. I feel this is the best time to holiday as the weather is also good,” said Vij, who is planning a holiday in Manali.

She added that even her children, two daughters, are really excited about it and looking forward to a break.

“They are really studying hard for their exams and they will get over by March 15. The atmosphere at home is stressful for them as well as for us. The new session will begin from April and then they will get busy with their classes.

“So we all planned to go out of the city during this long weekend, which suits my husband too as he won’t have to take leave from office,” added Vij, whose husband is a government servant.

According to Sharat Dhall, President, Yatra.com, a lot of people are planning a quick getaway because it is one of the longest weekends this year.

“Yatra has seen a tremendous pick up in hotel bookings and packages for the four-day weekend from all the major cities. We are expecting hotels and packages bookings to increase by three-fold as we get closer to the weekend,” said Dhall.

Besides Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and other domestic locations, travelers are also opting for international destinations such as Dubai and Singapore for short getaway, he added.

Hari Nair, founder and CEO of Holiday IQ, feels that Indians are holidaying like never before and festival tourism had taken off in the country in a major way.

“Every possible occasion is now a reason to travel. Till a couple of years ago, festival celebrations were limited to family homes. Today, entire families travel together for the celebration,” Nair said.

Nair said destinations like Gangtok and Darjeeling were also much in demand.(IANS)(Image courtesy: blog.travelogyindia.com)

Enjoy your diving trip to any one of these amazing and underestimated diving spots and have a vacation to remember! Flickr

If you love scuba diving you’ve probably already visited some of the planet’s most popular dive spots. Bali, the Maldives and the Red Sea are just three of the best known places that keen divers flock to every year. However, there are lots of other dive beaches around the world that are well worth seeing but which are shockingly underrated. Here are some of the best kept secrets for adventurous divers out there who want to get off the beaten track.

Thailand – Koh Lipe

While Koh Lanta, a few hours further north is a well-known diving hotspot, Koh Lipe is a surprisingly beautiful place to explore the underwater world. The picturesque beaches here have stunning turquoise water and some spectacular marine life. Seahorses, shrimps, ghost pipefish and stone fish are common residents here while the soft corals under the water’s surface make Koh Lipe a dream for drift divers.

Koh Lipe. Flickr

Canada – Newfoundland

While Canada isn’t well known for its warm and inviting waters, the beaches of Newfoundland are an amazing place to dive as long as you’re prepared for the chill! This north-east region of Canada may have cold temperatures but when you put on a dry suit and head underwater you’re sure to be impressed by the sea life here. Iceberg Alley is one of the best places to explore as you can see enormous ice chunks floating past. If you’re a fan of enormous marine creatures, minke and humpback whales can often be spotted in the summer months, while the sites just off St Johns are perfect for wreck divers. You can still see ship equipment and sailors’ belongings under the water thanks to the preserving properties of the cold water so head to Conception Bay to see no less than four shipwrecks under the water.

Malaysia- Perhentian Islands

While you may have experienced diving off Borneo, if you head 30 minutes away to the north east coast of Malaysia you’ll find two islands that are the perfect spot for divers. Pulai Kecil and Pulau Besar are the Perhentian Islands and they are the perfect place for laid-back divers. You can choose from deep much dives or shallow reef dives as well as several wreck sites. There’s also plenty of fish to see including scorpionfish, stingrays, snappers and black tip reef sharks.

Perhentian Islands. Flickr

South Africa – Coral Gardens, Cape Town

If you’ve ever headed to South Africa for a spot of diving you were probably cage diving with Great Whites. However there are lots of other diving activities here that don’t involve getting up close and personal with all those terrifying teeth. Head to Coral Gardens off the Cape Peninsula and see amazing colors of coral as well as an enormous diversity of sea creatures. There’s an amazing kelp garden to explore as well as spectacular giant granite boulders and even better, if you’re a novice scuba diver you’ll still be able to get the most out of your trip since the deepest part of the site is just 18 meters.

Indonesia – Sulawesi

While most people who travel to Indonesia head to Bali, Sulawesi in the north is a perfect place for divers to explore. Once known as Celebes, this island has a distinctive squid shape and boasts some amazing diving opportunities. The crystal clear waters and spectacular sea life makes this one of the best places to get under the water. Not only that, but it’s also a wonderful place to find out more about the local culture, with the burial rites of the southern highlands being especially fascinating. You’ll certainly not regret arranging a diving trip to this out of the way location.

Sulawesi. Flickr

If you’re ready to get off the beaten track and explore some of the world’s most underrated dive sites you’re going to need to make sure you have all the essential equipment that you need. If you view this link you’ll find all the information you need to know about choosing the best diving gear to suit your requirements. The helpful advice that you’ll find will make your trip even better.

Enjoy your diving trip to any one of these amazing and underestimated diving spots and have a vacation to remember!